GAS FLOW CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

Invention is of an improvement to seat of gate valves used for gas-lift producing oil wells, consisting of a seat lower part of which is curved there being a straight vertical art and a sloping straight lower part, central spacing consisting of a first part in the shape of a tapered nozzle at which gas is gradually speeded up, a second part which is the main restriction to flow, and a third part in the shape of a conical diffuser at which gas is gradually slowed down.

Description

Summary of Invention

[0005] This invention is of an improvement to the seat of this kind of valve, with the aid of an optimum geometric arrangement of such seat so as to render flow isoentropic within the valve, thereby greatly reducing the unsuitable effects referred to in the geometry currently adopted. This new idea consists of a so-called compact venturi which is the result of coupling a tapering nozzle to a conical diffuser. This device is almost as efficient as a regular venturi, though quite a lot shorter (a requirement as regards the valve) and much easier to make, therefore cheaper.

[0006] Use of this kind of geometry leads to a rise of about 20% in the possible rate of flow of gas through the valve for the same pressure differential between casing and pipe, or, also, a drop of 7% to 20% in casing pressure needed to withstand the same flow of gas at same pipe pressure (usually the higher of these two figures applies).

[0007] A good example of an instance of when the newly-invented valve would be needed is that of satellite wells in deep water where heavy flow and high pressure occur.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0008] Invention will now be described in greater detail with the aid of the drawings attached hereto, where:

[0009] Figure 1 is a part section view of a gate valve of the kind in current use and Figure 1a shows an enlarged view of a section of seat;

[0010] Figure 2 is a full cross-sectional view of said seat;

[0011] Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig.2 showing gas flowing through it; and

[0012] Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section of the improved seat according to the present invention used in the gate valve.

Detailed Description

[0013] Figure 1 is a sketch of a gate valve type of gas-lift valve currently in use. In the Figure there is a point marked A where gas enters the valve, passes through the valve seat B (that is, the gate), passes check valve C and leaves out of nose D for the inside of the pipe, Figure 1 also shows a detailed view in section of the seat, shown as a sketch in Figure 2, in which the cylindrical body of valve 1 can be seen, the housing 2 for the seat, and the seat 3, the gate 4 and o ring 5.

[0014] It will be seen that seat 3 is just a disk in which a cylindrical hole of the wanted diameter has been drilled. Edges are, as a rule, sharp but they may also be slightly chamfered 6.

[0015] Figure 3 is a sketch of flow lines through the gate 4 as through seat 3. Sudden contracting and expanding causes swirls which bring about heavy load losses. Furthermore, the smallest area of flow does not take place along the the tight part (seat) but rather, further on, as a phenomenon known as "vena contracta".

[0016] Usual kind of modelling consists in supposing an isoentropic flow (reversible adiabatic flow) and then introducing a correction factor (discharge factor), theoretical results being compared with those arrived at experimentally. However, this discharge factor is difficult to express for it depends on several other factors, many of them intangible as regards any theoretical modelling. Hence any designing and study of continuous gas lifting becomes difficult because they depend on proper calculation of gas discharge rates through the valves. Furthermore, the irreversibilities introduce an extra load loss into the system (this is transformed unnecessarily into heat).

[0017] In order to diminish the abovementioned drawbacks this invention provides a new kind of geometry for seat 7 as shown in the enlarged sketch of the section at Figure 4.

[0018] The improved seat 7 has a curved upper part 8, a straight intermediate vertical part 9, and a straight sloping lower part 10, with central space 11 consisting of a first sloping nozzle kind of part 12, where gas is gradually speeded up; a second cylindrical part 13 diameter of which is the same as that wanted for the gate and which represents main restriction to flow, and a third part 14 in the shape of a conical diffuser, where gas is gradually slowed down. Thus irreversibilities are diminished and the place where flow is least lies at the second part 13, the vena contracta phenomenon being thereby avoided.

[0019] Angle α which is responsible for length H1 of the third part 14 is limited by whatever length is available (this being more critical in 1 1/2" valves unless modifications are made to the body thereof). Diameter d1 may be the same as d2, but generally, for assembly reasons, is slightly less. Likewise, second part 13 may be reduced, theoretically, to one only part but, also for practical reasons, its length should always be h2 even though small, and h3 should be the length of the first part 12 shaped like a sloping nozzle.

[0020] This arrangement is often referred to in literature as a compact venturi, since it is like the ordinary venturi, but quite a lot shorter and easy to make, without however leading to any great differences in performance.

Claims

1. In an oil well having a casing with tubing concentrically disposed therein, an apparatus for controlling gas lift, said apparatus comprising a gas lift valve mounted on said tubing and having an inlet end in communication with a space between said tubing and said casing and an outlet in communication with an interior of said tubing, said gas lift valve consisting of a housing and a nozzle mounted in said housing, said nozzle having a continuously open passage through which gas is allowed to flow, wherein said passage consists of a curved inlet portion through which gas flow is speeded up, a smooth straight, intermediate portion providing a main restriction to gas flow and a smooth, outwardly tapered, conical shaped outlet portion through which said gas flow is gradually slowed down, reducing the gas pressure loss and rendering gas flow isoentropic.

2. In oil well having a casing and a tubing with an annulus defined therebetween, an apparatus for controlling the flow of gas from said annulus into said tubing, said apparatus comprising:

3. An oil well as in claim 2, further comprising:

4. In a gas lift system for injecting pressurized gas into a well having a production string, a gas flow control valve comprising:

5. A gas lift system as in claim 4, further comprising a check valve downstream from said diffuser portion responsive to said flow of pressurized gas.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said diffuser has a conical contour.

7. A device for controlling a flow of gas from an external source into well tubing to enhance lift of fluid in the tubing comprising:

8. A device as in claim 7, further comprising a check valve disposed downstream from said diffuser portion and responsive to said flow of gas.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said diffuser has a conical contour.

10. A method for achieving flow through a flow control valve in a well having a tubing concentrically spaced within a casing by an annulus, comprising the steps of:

11. A method as in claim 10, further comprising flowing gas ejected from the outlet portion through a check valve before said mixing step.